SEDGLEY PARK...11 ORRELL...8
Lancashire Under 17 Cup Final
THIS Sedgley team, who first won the Lancashire Cup as under 13s, made it four titles in five years, beating a top class Orrell side in a nail-biting close final at Fleetwood.
Sedgley started the brighter and applied constant pressure, only to lose out near the line to mistakes or penalties.
Orrell had the first chance to get points on the board, but a kick was missed, and then Sedgley themselves failed to convert a couple of penalty opportunities.
Orrell had some elusive backs and Sedgley were indebted to Buchanan, Johnson and Carr, who pulled off try-saving tackles.
The first try came minutes before half time when Appleton chipped through, regained the ball as two Orrell defenders fumbled, and combined with Harris and Carr for Buchanan to race in at the corner; 5-0 at the interval.
Outstanding for Sedgley yet again were Downs and Harrison in the line-out and Urban at hooker.
Props Taylor and Hancox worked hard and McBurnie and Shaw were a constant threat to the opposition and were tireless in the mauls.
Scrum-half Parrat was superb marshalling his forwards and tackled well close to the ruck.
Orrell started the second half strongly with a deserved try from a driving maul to level the scores.
The referee appeared to be penalising Sedgley constantly, which stopped the flow of the game for both teams, but gave Orrell most of the possession.
Shortly after the restart Sedgley had the luxury of replacing both props; unfortunately for Orrell, Uddin and England player Forster took to the field weighing in at about thirty-six stone between them!
Both had tremendous impact going forward, resulting in a penalty which Harris converted.
Orrell came straight back to level the score with another penalty before Harris kicked what proved to be the match winner.
Orrell battled to the end and only desperate defence saved the day as Sedgley hung on to their three-point lead.
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